Bollywood Photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha Dies at 61

The legend in an early photo among his collection of Pavarotti,
Chiara, Dimitrova, Callas and Carreras recordings.

"Celebrity photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha died of cardiac arrest here [Mumbai] on Tuesday. He was 61. Rajadhyakasha, who became famous for his candid potrayals of Bollywood stars from Durga Khote to Aishwarya Rai, loved drama, visual - and aural. 'He was a great opera lover,' recounts filmmaker Shyam Benegal, shooting pictures of whom was Rajadhyaksha's first professional assignment. 'Gautam had the finest collection of LPs. He was an absolute walking encyclopedia of opera. He could tell you everything about every singer, Maria Callas to Jose Carreras. He even lectured on opera at various societies.' Rajadhyakasha's passion for the drama that makes opera reflected itself in his photographs, many of people with undoubtedly beautiful faces, but whose personalities came through in his compositions." [Source] Read more about Gautam Rajadhyakasha here.

Calling a Spade a Club: What Defines "Classical" Music

At first glance, classical fans may rejoice at huge increase in album sales. Once you take a closer look at why the numbers soared, it becomes slightly more depressing.

[Source]

Montserrat Caballé Reissues Still Missing Major Recording

If you need your Montserrat Caballé thirst quenched, turn to EMI and Sony for recent reissues from the soprano's back catalog. With the numerous compilations that have been released, there is still a vital recording missing: 15 Strauss songs with Alexis Weissenberg on piano. A number of years ago, EMI Classics issued the 1979 recording of Canto a Sevilla by Joaquin Turina and Canciones negras by Xavier Montsalvatge on CD. The other half of the original 2LP set, however, has never seen the light of day on CD or MP3. Why? Not to mention the lack of originality with cover art on the above re-issues. Are there really only two photos of this great artist in the files of these record companies to use?

Arkiv Music Revives Classics From CBS/RCA Catalog

Many recordings by fine artists like Frederica von Stade and Shirley Verrett have never seen the light of day on compact disc. That has changed now that Arkiv Music has licensed eight releases from Sony, which holds the rights to the catalogs of CBS Masterworks and RCA, allowing the artistry of these two singers to be brought to the world. Now, any chance we could get re-issues of Anna Moffo's French Opera Arias, complete Thaïs, Debussy songs, Verdi arias, Irvin Berlin and Gershwin songs, La Juive highlights, bel canto songs of Bellini, Verdi, Rossini and Donizetti, Dream Duets with Sergio Franchi, One Night in Love with Skitch Henderson, the album of her singing works she composed, etc.?

DG Spring Releases For René Pape & Ildebrando d'Arcangelo

International release date: April 1, 2011

TRACK LISTING:
1. Leb wohl, du kühnes, herrliches Kind! (Die Walküre)
2. Der Augen leuchtendes Paar (Die Walküre)
3. Loge, hör! Lausche hieher! (Die Walküre)
4. Was duftet doch der Flieder (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg)
5. Hört, ihr Leut, und laßt euch sagen (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg)
6. Verachtet mir die Meister nicht (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg)
7. Gott grüß' euch, liebe Männer von Brabant! (Lohengrin)
8. Oh Gnade! Höchstes Heil! - Oh Herr! (Parsifal)
9. Und ich, ich bin's - Nicht doch! Die heilge Quelle selbst (Parsifal)
10. Gesegnet sei, du Reiner, durch das Reine! (Parsifal)*
11. Wie dünkt mich doch die Aue (Parsifal)*
12. Wie Todesahnung...O du mein holder Abendstern (Tannhäuser)
*Special guest: Plácido Domingo

International release date: April 29, 2011

TRACK LISTING:
1.  "Madamina, il catalogo è questo" (Don Giovanni)
2.   Bravo, Signor padrone! (Le Nozze di Figaro)
3.  "Se vuol ballare, signor Contino" (Le Nozze di Figaro) 
4.   Alcandro lo confesso
5.   Non sò d'onde viene
6.   Ehi sor paggio! (Le Nozze di Figaro)
7.  "Non più andrai" (Le Nozze di Figaro)
8.  "Deh! vieni alla finestra" (Don Giovanni)
9.   Mentre ti lascio, oh figlia, K.513
10. "Fin ch'han dal vino" (Don Giovanni)
11.  Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo
12. "Tutto è disposto"
13. "Aprite un po' quegli occhi"
14.  Così dunque tradisci
15.  Aspri rimorsi atroci
16. "Donne mie, la fate a tanti" (Così fan tutte)
17.  Per questa bella mano, K.612
18. "Hai già vinta la causa!" (Le Nozze di Figaro)
19. "Vedro mentr'io sospiro" (Le Nozze di Figaro)